Previously on Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising

Malevomon sure did a number on Takuya and Zoe in their last battle at Breezy Village. Thankfully, the Blisseymon were able to heal most of their injuries. Just when our heroes were finally back on their two feet, the Digimon Battlefront has another mission waiting for them. This time, the Chosen Children and every else were sent to a place called Terra Hills to locate the Legendary Spirits of Earth that's possibly hidden in a village. But when they got to their destination, an army of Tortomon attacked. And to make matters worse, something seems to be wrong with Takuya.

So, without further ado, here's chapter twelve!


To Fight, Or Not To Fight

Normal POV:

"GRAND DASH!" growled the tortoise-like Digimon.

He lifted up one of his giant paws and swung it at the defenseless boy. With the deadly combination of size and speed of the attacking foot, it would be nearly impossible for the goggle-head to survive. And judging by the look in Tortomon's eyes, he's ready to stomp this pathetic human into a pancake; with absolutely no remorse.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Takuya cried. He shielded his face and braced himself for the end.

"TAKUYAAAAAAAAAA!" cried Zoe as she ran toward her best friend. There were a bunch of fighting Digimon she had to maneuver to get to the frightened young man. But his life was on the line, and Zoe wasn't going to let anyone destroy the boy that means so much to her.

She took out her purple and pinkish D-Tector and was ready for action.

*Insert Song: With The Will*

A pinkish sketch of the Human Spirit of Wind traced on the black screen of Zoe's D-Tector. When the outline was finished, the screen on her device stated to glow. With her purple device in her right hand, she spun around once with her left arm on her hips. She stuck her free hand out in front upon completing the circle. A ring of Fractal Code surrounded the girl's hand. She bended and extended her arms a couple times before bringing her D-Tector and the Fractal Code ring together. The scanner made contact with the ring of data, making Zoe's device beep, and screech. The dark area surrounding the girl's body was engulfed by glimmering light.

"EXECUTE…" Zoe shouted, swiping the Fractal Code ring with her D-Tector. "… SPIRIT EVOLUTION!"

A long line of data surrounded the girl's body. At the same time, Zoe's clothes digitized as the Human Spirit of Wind awakened. The girl felt a wave of energy taking over her. The wind's power flowed throughout her body as she becoming one with the Spirit. Her hands, legs, and entire body slowly changed into the Warrior of Wind. Finally, the transformation was complete. She spun around three times, creating strong, turbulent winds around her. Upon completing her last turn, she gave a huge sidekick before flipping lavender hair with her left hand and striking a pose.

"KAZEMON!" The fairy said.

She flapped her wings and soared towards the defenseless Takuya and the attacking Tortomon. Just when the evil Digimon was about to finish Takuya off, the Warrior of Wind gave the tortoise a strong kick to the jaw, knocking the Digimon on his back. Tortomon tumbled on the dirt until he crashed into a nearby boulder, shattering the large rock into tiny pebbles.

Kazemon landed gracefully in front of Takuya and got into a defensive stance. From the corner of her eye, she could see the timid teenage boy looking more nervous than ever before. It bugs her seeing her best like this. Normally, he would be the first one on the battleground, ready to take out any Digimon who dare threaten the peace of the Digital World. Now, it's like he's completely change. Kazemon would like nothing more than to slap his face, kick him in between the legs, anything to get Takuya back in the game.

However, the lavender haired butterfly would have to wait for another time. She looked back to her opponent and saw the very same Tortomon back on his feet. Judging from the look in his eyes, he's definitely no happy after Kazemon kicked him squared in the chin. He unleashed a deafening roar that shook the whole area. He stomped viciously towards the Warrior of Wind and a terrified boy.

"Takuya, stop sniveling and make yourself useful! Don't just stand there! Help the villagers get to safety!" ordered Kazemon. Takuya still stood there, either thinking about what to do, or too afraid to move. Unfortunately, Kazemon's patience was growing thin.

"WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MOVE IT, TAKUYA!" She howled. That actually got her best friend's attention. He looked shaken up after being yelled at by the Legendary Warrior. It took him a few seconds to catch his breath.

"O... Okay." Takuya agreed.

He quickly moved out of the way and headed towards the scrambling villagers. Kazemon shook her head and sighed disappointingly. At least now, Takuya's doing something to make himself useful instead of just standing there and being an open target. She hasn't figured out what's wrong with Takuya or why he's acting so strange lately.

But now's not the time to be thinking about such things. She focused on the enemy in front of her. Tortomon picked up speed and charged at the giant butterfly.

"Give me the Spirits!" He demanded.

Kazemon slid to her right, and Tortomon's head slammed into a boulder. The boulder broke apart and crumbled into tiny pieces. For most Digimon, this would give them a massive headache. But not Tortomon. His head is like made of iron. He can headbutt over a hundred boulders and still not get dizzy from doing it. This Digimon is as tough as they come.

Tortomon glowered back at the Warrior of Wind and again rushed towards her. Kazemon waited until her opponent was in range. She leaped into the air and hovered above the evil tortoise. Kazemon checked to make sure she was in line with her target. Finally, she dove down and turned her feet towards him. Kazemon gave a vicious double kick across Tortomon's face.

But he quickly recovered from the attack and glared back at the Legendary Warrior, who was shocked to see him still standing. Unfortunately, that left her vulnerable to an attack. Tortomon charged at her once again, lowered his head and gave Kazemon a ferocious headbutt straight to the gut. She landed hard on her back, clutching her stomach with both hands. But before she could get back to her feet, Tortomon stomped his paws on her abdomen. Kazemon gasped for air as the evil Digimon continued drilling his foot into the warrior's stomach.

"Ooof... Ooof! YEOW!" Kazemon cried, trying to endure the pain. It felt like the head of a sledgehammer being dropped on her exposed midsection. And it only got harder with each hit.

"KAZEMON!" Bokomon shouted.

The Bearer of Flame turned back and saw Tortomon trampling on the poor Legendary Warrior. His eyes went up and heart rate increased with each stomp Kazemon took. He had to do something. If this keeps up, the evil Digimon will flatten the Warrior of Wind like a pancake. Takuya reached into his pocket and grabbed his D-Tector. He tried to pull it out, but something in his mind was preventing him. And just like that, he was once again frozen on the spot.

"You're mine now! Grand Dash!" Tortomon chuckled.

He lifted his paw one last time, ready to finish off Kazemon. But the Warrior of Wind swiftly recovered from the many powerful blows she had received on her midsection and quickly rolled to her right, barely dodging Tortomon's attack by a few centimeters. Kazemon sprung back to her feet, charge toward the evil Digimon and delivered a vicious sidekick to Tortomon's jaw. This time, she was able to knock the mind controlled tortoise flat on his back.

Now, it was her turn to get on the offensive. Kazemon grabbed the creature's tail and lifted him off the ground. The Legendary Warrior may look weak, but she's a lot stronger than what she appears. In fact, she managed to lift Tortomon thirty-five feet in the air and swung him around and around in circles. Poor Tortomon was already dizzy; either from being airborne or from the excessive spinning.

Finally, the Warrior of Wind released her opponent's tail and watched Tortomon plummeted towards the ground, crashed on a pile of rocks with a huge thud. Debris and dust spread across the area. Kazemon landed smoothly on her feet and check to see if she won. Unfortunately, the fight was far from over. Tortomon sprang out of the cloud of dust and returned to his stance. He snarled at the Legendary Warrior as the spikes on his back started to glow.

"Strong Carapace!" He growled.

He launched a barrage of spikes at the butterfly. Kazemon got back in her defensive position and waited for the projectile spikes to approach her. Once they were in range, the lavender haired butterfly spun her body around, completely avoiding a few oncoming spikes. Tortomon continued firing his attack at the dancing Legendary Warrior, but Kazemon graciously and elegantly moved her body out of the way.

She stopped twirling and returned to her stance, tracking how many spikes remained. The Legendary Warrior noticed more were coming in bunches, so dodging them would be more difficult. But that didn't prevent Kazemon from smiling. She turned defense into offense and rapidly kicked all the incoming projectiles. Her long, powerful legs shattered the spikes upon impact, breaking them into tiny pieces.

Once the barrage had ceased, Kazemon got back to her original position. Her eyes widened when she noticed Tortomon charging at her once again. This time, she was ready. When Tortomon came in for the kill, Kazemon leaped over the pouncing monster, while driving both of her feet into the back of his head. The attack made Tortomon dazed and confused. His vision became blurry and distorted. He shook his head, trying to fight the dizziness.

But when his headache finally subsided, the first thing Tortomon saw was the Warrior of Wind doing a handstand. Moments later, the butterfly spread both of her long legs out wide and spun around in the air.

"TEMPEST TWIST!"

Kazemon spun faster and faster as she inched closer towards Tortomon until she was in range. The Warrior of Wind unleashed a barrage of spin kicks all over the creature's head and body. Tortomon groaned in pain as his body continued taking Kazemon's powerful leg strikes. The butterfly Digimon finished off with a brutal heel kick to the side of the head. The blow knocked Tortomon unconscious as he fell to the ground. A ring of Fractal Code surrounded the creature's body. Kazemon landed smoothly on her feet and gazed at her opponent.

"Evil Digimon, you disgust me!" Kazemon said. She did a little twist before pulling out her purplish D-Tector.

"It's time for some purification." The scanner lit up and the Symbol of Wind appeared on the screen. She did one more turn before closing it out.

"FRACTAL CODE... DIGITIZE!"

She swung her arm out, absorbing the data around Tortomon's body. When all of the Fractal Code was absorbed in her device, Tortomon's body digitized until there was nothing left. At last, the evil Digimon was defeated.

Fractal Code surrounded Kazemon's body, transforming the Legendary Warrior back to her human form. She looked down and noticed a black sphere on the ground, still flowing with energy. But since its host was gone, the power in the Chaos Sphere diminished. When the evil energy in the orb has reached zero, the Chaos Sphere shattered into bits.

"She did it!" Neemon jumped high in the air and cheered.

"Way to go, Zoe!" complemented Bokomon, who saw the entire thing.

Zoe saw the two Rookies running towards her with huge smiles on their faces. But as much liked seeing that her Digimon friends were alright, there was one person in particular she was most concerned about.

And there he was. The teenage blonde saw Takuya standing in the same spot as before, looking quite shocked to say the least. But for some reason, that made the Bearer of Wind very upset. Zoe's clenched her fist tight and a terrifying scowl reappeared on her face. She stomped her way towards Takuya, passing by both Bokomon and Neemon.

Zoe finally reached her best friend and stood before the goggle-headed boy. She crossed her arms and waited for him to say something. Anything. A word, a phrase, a short sentence. She just wanted an explanation for his strange behavior. Then again, Takuya shifted his eyes toward the ground. He was having trouble coming up with the right words to say. And even if he did, who's to say what Zoe might do.

Eventually, the goggle-head gazed back into her emerald eyes and opened his mouth.

"Zoe, I..."

*slap*

The teenage girl gave Takuya a hard smack to the face, knocking the boy down on all fours. Takuya hissed as he rubbed his swollen cheek. It stung when he made contact. But his mind wasn't prepared for what Zoe had next.

"YOU FOOL! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE AND HERE YOU ARE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLEFIELD LIKE A CLUELESS IDIOT. ISN'T THAT RIGHT? HUH? ANSWER ME TAKUYA!"

"Uh..."

"WHAT? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? ONE MINUTE YOU WERE SO HYPED UP FOR THIS MISSION AND READY TO RETRIEVE ANOTHER SPIRIT, AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, YOU'RE TOO SCARED TO SPIRIT EVOLVE! JUST WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

"Um..."

"I TOLD YOU TO PROTECT YOURSELF! I TOLD YOU TO PROTECT THE OTHERS! I EVEN TOLD YOU TO SPIRIT EVOLVE WHEN YOU WERE IN DANGER! AND YET YOU DID NONE OF THAT! WHAT'S WRONG, TAKUYA? HAVING TROUBLE COMPREHENDING WHAT DANGER IS? HUH?"

"Zoe, please stop..."

"SHUT UP! THAT'S IT! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THAT SORRY ATTITUDE OF YOURS! I'VE HAD IT! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW ABOUT IF I..."

Zoe pulled her arm back, ready to give Takuya one hellacious beating. However, Swiftmon quickly grabbed her arm, before the girl could continue. Zoe turned towards Swiftmon and noticed him shaking his head. She tried to shake free, but the swordsman's grip was too tight. The only thing for her to do was to cool down and let go of her anger.

She glowered back at Takuya who was still rubbing his cheek, which still had Zoe's handprint on it. The blonde saw a look of guilt on Takuya's face. But while she was still curious about what's going on with the boy, she had no sense in feeling any kind of sympathy towards him.

Once when the mood had died down, Swiftmon released Zoe's arm. The frustrated Bearer of Wind walked passed her best friend. But not before giving him a strong, rude bump on his shoulder with hers. Zoe kept her eyes close so she doesn't see the pathetic look on Takuya's face. She stomped angrily away from the group and sat down on a rock to gaze at the view.

"Zoe?" Bokomon cried out, but his words fell on deaf ears. The Rookie then turned back to Takuya, who was already back to his feet. He looked really sad, ashamed of the something he did... or didn't do.

"Takuya? Are you alright, my boy?"

"Come on, let's go." Takuya mumbled. His tone was inaudible and very monotonic. Still, Bokomon and Neemon understood his command. They walked by his side and continued walking uphill towards Terra Hills Village without another word.

Swiftmon checked to make sure everyone was present and accounted for. They only lost a couple of Digimon during the skirmish with the army of Tortomon. But according to second-in-command, one Digimon is not an acceptable loss. He looked behind him and saw the Bearer of Wind still sitting on a rock, gazing at the breathtaking view. He could sense some pain lurking inside the girl.

"Let's move out! We still have a mission to fulfill! Go to the Terra Hills Village and find the Spirits of Earth!" He commanded.

"YES, SIR!" His troops replied

Swiftmon wait until every Digimon has left the premises before heading toward the heartbroken girl.


Zoe's POV:

"Stupid Takuya." I said to myself, while kicking another small rock off of the cliff. I felt a tear brushing against my cheek.

No one can understand the pain that's inside my heart. I scolded at Takuya for no reason. I let my anger get the best of me. And what's worst, I added injury to insult to poor Takuya. That slap I gave wasn't anything I've ever felt before. When I struck his face, I felt a knife piercing through me. It hurts so much treating him like that. I knew he was acting strange, but why did I have to overreact? Why couldn't I just talk to him... like best friends should?

"Are you okay?" Someone asked. I looked down and saw a small lion cub with a Holy Ring around his neck. I wiped my face and smiled at him.

"Oh, hey Liollmon." I spoke. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just a little upset, but I'm fine."

"Care to talk about it, Miss?"

"No, but thanks anyway. And please, call me Zoe."

"Zoe... Would you like to be my friend?"

"It would be an honor. By the way, did you find your father?"

"Yeah. I saw him going back to the village after you guys defeated the Tortomon. I saw you fighting with their leader! You were amazing, Mis... I mean, Zoe!"

"Aw, thanks Liollmon."

"Yeah, you were like... 'BAM!' And when Tortomon attacked, you were like... 'POW!' And when that bully hurled those giant rocks at you, you were like... 'BOOM! BOOM! POW!' That so cool!"

"Thanks, Liollmon. But it wasn't just me. We all worked together to keep you guys safe."

"Yeah, but... who was that other human? I thought he was cool like you. Who would have thought he'd be such a coward?"

"Now, now. Takuya's not a coward. He just... just... well, uh..."

"Maybe I can answer that." said a voice from behind. I turned and saw a warrior-like Digimon looking at me.

"Swiftmon!" I said. I got to my feet and hustled towards the swordsman, with Liollmon behind me.

"Oh, Liollmon, this is Swiftmon, second-in-command of the Digimon Battlefront."

"Pleasure." Swiftmon said, patting Liollmon on the head.

"Digimon Battlefront?" repeated the cub. "I heard about you guys! My father keeps mentioning about how you'll save the Digital World from a dark creature known as Malevomon! He also mentioned a couple humans becoming Digimon using the power of the Legendary Spirits!"

"Indeed." Swiftmon nodded. He then looked back at me.

"I need to talk to you. It's about your friend." The look in his eyes had changed. Whatever he's about to tell me, I'm sure it's not going to be good news. Since this is Takuya we're talking about, it must be pretty serious.

"What is it, Swiftmon? What's wrong with Takuya?"

"Remember when I asked you if your friend was acting strange? Care to change your answer?"

"Well... I don't know. I mean, it's not like Takuya to chicken out on such an important mission like this. But something tells me that there is something wrong with him. He's just not... himself."

"Let me ask you another question." Swiftmon said. "When Malevomon attacked back at Breezy Village, did he do anything to you guys?"

"Besides giving us a good beating? No... Not really..."

"Are you sure? Did Malevomon used any kind of special moves on you or your friend?"

"Well..."

I thought back to that horrifying scene. I remembered it as if it were yesterday. Malevomon had his hand around my neck. I was barely conscious, very weak, and in so much pain. But instead of finishing me off, he did something to Takuya... something terrible. It was an attack I had never seen before, but just listening to Takuya screaming in pain tore my heart in two. I had never felt so helpless. I looked back at Swiftmon and told him what I remembered.

"Now that you mentioned it, there was this attack Malevomon used on Takuya... and Chrysanthemon too. He created some kind of dark sphere and blasted it at them, trapping them with its evil energy. I don't know exactly what was going on inside that sphere, but I could hear Takuya crying in pain. It's like he's trapped in his own little nightmare with no way to get out. I believe Malevomon called this move the..."

"Malevolent Onslaught!" Swiftmon and I said in unison.

"I knew it..." the swordsman sighed.

"Swiftmon, you know this move?" I gasped

"Know it? I've seen Malevomon used that move on a number of us. We've lost a lot of fighters and innocent Digimon because of that devastating move."

"What is the Malevolent Onslaught? I know it's dangerous, but what's really going on inside that dark sphere?"

"When Malevomon traps you inside that sphere, the dark powers zap you from every conceivable direction and drains all of your energy until there's nothing left but a lifeless body."

"But... Takuya survived that attack. Chrysanthemon didn't share the same fate, but Takuya was still alive."

"The Spirits of Flame may have saved his life."

"So why was he acting weird all of the sudden?"

"Let me finish, my child. That attack usually finishes off Malevomon's enemies. But those who survived it... well, let's say it's just the beginning."

"I don't understand. I mean, Blisseymon healed all of his injuries, so why is he still..."

"Physical injuries. Remember. The Malevolent Onslaught not only damages the body, but the mind as well. Our medical team can heal all kinds of physical injuries. But as for mental injuries, that's a different story. Your friend may look fine on the outside, but it's probably a complete mess on the inside."

"Oh no. Takuya..." I felt my eyes watering. I don't want to Takuya to isolate himself from others, especially me. I don't want to lose him. Not now, not ever. I just got to help him somehow. I just gotta.

"Swiftmon, please tell me there's something we can do. There's got to be a way to help Takuya get back to normal again. Please, Swiftmon! I'm begging you! I don't want to lose my best friend!"

"I'm sorry, my child. There's nothing we can do. We can provide support or be there when he needs us. However, that's pretty much it. Your friend is the only one that can overcome this struggle. Whether he wins or loses is up to him."

I looked back up the hill and my thoughts return to Takuya. He needs my help, and I'll do whatever it takes to get that lost young boy return to the Takuya I once know. The next time I see him, I'll talk to him and try to make him feel better; make up from the slap I had gave him earlier. Then again, it won't be easy, since I was the one who made things worse than what it already is.

I looked back at Swiftmon and nodded.

"I understand." I said.

"Good. Now, come. The others are waiting for us." Before I could speak, Swiftmon disappeared from sight. I stood back up and smiled at my new Digimon friend.

"Ready to see our village?" Liollmon asked me.

"I'd love to." I smiled.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

"Race you to the top!" I giggled. Liollmon grinned as he and I ran on the path and raced up the hill.

Beads of sweat glided down my forehead and the gentle breeze blew my hair back. I can feel my heart pounding against my chest, filling my body with so much adrenaline. Nothing beats the thrill of going fast. Liollmon and I were just having a friendly competition, but this little kitty is one heck of a speed demon. I got tired about three quarters of the way, while Liollmon sprinted ahead of me.

I looked up and saw the entrance to Terra Hills Village. There was a gigantic wall right before my eyes with a couple of guard towers on both ends. One humanoid Digimon appeared out of one of the towers and looked down upon me.

"Halt! Who goes there?" He shouted.

"It's me, Dinohyumon! Please open up!" Liollmon replied.

"Why, of course, young master! I'm on it!" The warrior saluted as he disappeared back into the tower.

"Young master?" I asked, looking puzzled.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. My father, uh... he's the head of Terra Hills Village. Perhaps, I forgot to mention..."

"Well, you don't say!" I giggled.

That's when sounds of a crank turning entered my ear. I looked back at the wall and noticed it opening up like the door to a mysterious temple. I must say that this place has some pretty cool security, compared to most villages. Liollmon and I smiled at each other as we stepped inside.

It was a small place filled with all kinds of Digimon, surrounded by sheer mountains and rocky crags. Most of the houses were built of stones and clay with red tiled roofs. In the middle of the village, there is a shrine surrounded by all kinds of statues and decorations. To the right of the village flowed quietly a clear and babbling stream. I noticed a bunch of young Digimon splashing each other, going for a little swim or just relaxing by the waters. There were also a few shops, eateries and a few decorated tents filled with other interesting merchandise.

"Welcome to our village!" Liollmon smiled brightly at me.

"Oh my goodness." I gasped, taking in the entire scenery. "It's beautiful!"

"Come on! Let me show you around!"

I followed the young lion cub as he gave me a tour of his home. He showed me the best place to eat, where to get a good view of the entire village, and even where he goes to school. (Yes, Digimon attend school, like us humans) He even introduced me to some important Digimon in the area, like village's council and commander of the defense forces.

I got to say that the villagers were very friendly and extremely helpful. We got along really easily, plus I got a chance to tell them about myself, my past adventures in the Digital World, and even what the Human World was like. After a few minutes of good conversation, Liollmon took me to a park filled with large numbers of young Digimon. They were all playing with each other and having fun. Some were playing their own version of soccer, a few drew pictures on the ground while others ran around and played tag or any other kind of running games. It made me so relaxed and so happy seeing the smiles on their faces.

"Hey, Liollmon! Over here! Play with us!" Some of the kids shouted.

"Care to join me, Zoe?" He grinned. I smiled back at the boy.

Sure, after a few days of nonstop fighting, it's good to take a break and run around with the young ones. I was about to answer when something caught my eye. I noticed someone sitting all by himself on a rock nearby. He had really sad look on his face, like he's lost something special to him. His attention was entirely on the ground. Suddenly, I felt some kind of pain aching inside my heart. I didn't want to leave him alone, not after the way I treated him a while ago.

"You go on ahead without me. I just gotta take care of a few things." I nodded his head and ran towards the group of children.

I turned my attention back to Takuya. It's like he's been in that position for a really long time. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now. I just got to help him somehow. Swiftmon did mention that I can provide emotional support, but I know I can do better than that. I started walking towards the lonesome young boy, constantly reminded myself to be patient and understanding, After all, I made his condition a lot worse than what it already was. The least I can do was make him smile again.

My head is telling me to give him space, yet my heart is reaching out to him. But Takuya needs me now, regardless of how he's feeling. I stood in front of Takuya feeling very apprehensive. However, it appeared as if he doesn't even know I'm here. I sat down on a rock next to him, hoping he would at least acknowledge me. I then placed a warm hand on his shoulder. Sure enough, his eyes gazed directly into mine.


Normal POV:

"Hey." She spoke.

Unfortunately, that's pretty much all she could say right now. She wanted to start off slow, just to loosen the tension a bit. For if she said something wrong, her best friend may never speak to her again. Takuya stared at her blankly for a little bit before turning back towards the ground without saying a word. Zoe sighed again and tried talking to him once more.

"Look... I'm really sorry for yelling at you a while ago. I, uh... I knew I was wrong. And I'm truly sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you, Takuya. Can you... can you ever forgive me?"

Her eyes lit up when she Takuya looking back at her and slightly nodding his head. Sure, it wasn't much of a reply. Especially since most people wouldn't even noticed the nod. But she noticed it and her smile grew larger. At least Takuya responded, so she was making good progress in cheering him up. But she couldn't stop there. She had to keep going.

"This place sure is wonderful. They got a bunch of stores, places to eat, a nice little stream on the side and even this one place where you get the entire breathtaking view of the entire village! Oh and look, they have many places for the little Digimon to play. See Takuya? Look at that. Isn't it cute?"

Zoe then pointed to a group of young Digimon playing in the fields. Takuya looked up and noticed the children running around with each other and having so much fun. Each Digimon was either laughing or smiling with their friends. Seeing their happiness allowed Takuya to smile once again. Zoe looked back at her best friend and she too noticed Takuya's timid smile.

"Ah! Takuya, you smiled! You finally smiled! I'm so glad! You know what I always say, 'You can't start feeling better, until you smile!' Right?"

"Yeah... I guess you're right." Takuya finally spoke. He looked back at his best friend, with a grin on his face. But that was nothing compared to Zoe's. She looked as happy as a clam in butter sauce. At last, she finally got him to talk to her. Now it's time for the next step.

"That's good." giggled Zoe. She scooted in closer towards the young boy with goggles. Her cheeks turned a small hue of red. "So... are you feeling better now?"

"Yeah... I'm okay... I guess..."

"Alright... Listen, if you ever need anything, just let me know. I'm always here for you, Takuya. Always have, always will." She spoke as she stared into his brown eyes.

"Okay... Thanks, Zoe. You're a true friend."

"Yeah. No prob..." Zoe said softly. She cringed a little bit due to the fact that she and Takuya are only, and will probably forever be, friends. But that issue will be settled another time. She looked back at Takuya and continued the conversation.

"By the way, I looked around the village and there's still no signs of the Spirits yet. Did you find the Legendary Spirits of Earth yet, Takuya?"

He responded by shaking his head. He and Zoe both let out a sigh of disappointment. Finally, Zoe got up from her seat and extended a hand towards her best friend. It took the boy a few seconds for him to notice the girl's hand in front of his face. He looked back into her emerald eyes and saw that cute little smile of hers.

"Well, come on Takuya. We're not going to find the Spirits by just sitting here." She grinned.

"But... what if they're not here?"

"They just have to be. Everyone's working hard to stop Malevomon and save the Digital World. But they need us to do our part too. And to do that, we must find the Legendary Spirits and secure it before Malevomon and his cronies get their filthy hands on it. Right?"

"Well... I guess so..."

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Immediately, she grabbed Takuya's hand and helped him to his feet. Takuya looked back at Zoe looking somewhat surprised. She really wanted to help him get back to his feet and will not take no for an answer. The two of them walked back to the village, hand in hand.

Zoe took her D-Tector out of her pocket and a miniaturized map appeared on the screen. However, there was no dot indicating where the Spirits were hiding. She looked left and right, up and down, but still no signal. She then turned back towards Takuya. His eyes were still towards the ground in defeat. Zoe noticed the same frown he wore not too long ago. Even his D-Tector was still clipped to his side pocket. Zoe sighed once again and stopped in the middle of the village as she released Takuya's hand.

"Chin up, Takuya! We'll find the Spirits of Earth soon. You'll see." That still didn't help. Takuya's eyes never left the ground. Zoe started to worry, wondering if Takuya will ever return to the same goggle-headed young boy she admires so much. "Come on, Takuya. Whatever happened to that indomitable spirit you always have when we're out on a mission? Where is that energetic, yet stubborn goggle boy that everybody loves so much? Huh?"

"Last time I was like that, I almost got squashed by Tortomon."

"But you're all better now, right?"

"I'm afraid not."

"I don't understand Takuya. It's like you've forgotten how to fight."

"I didn't forget." Takuya muttered. "I just... I just don't want to fight anymore."

"Don't want to fight? What do you mean?"

"Fighting brings nothing but pain and misery. I don't want others to get hurt because of me."

"Okay, Takuya. Now you have officially lost it."

"I'm serious, Zoe. No more fighting."

Zoe stood there with her mouth dropped. Is she hearing things? Is Takuya really serious about not fighting anymore? What's going on? Why the sudden change? The old Takuya couldn't wait to get on the battlefield and kick some Digimon butt. However, the Takuya standing in front of her is completely different. She couldn't believe her ears. What does he mean he doesn't want to fight anymore? Hasn't he forgotten that he's a Legendary Warrior and that it is his duty to protect the Digital World and its inhabitants at all times, no matter what the cost? Zoe thought back to what Swiftmon mentioned earlier.

"Your friend may look fine on the outside, but it's a complete mess on the inside."

Could this be what Swiftmon was talking about? Could Malevomon's attack may have affected Takuya's will to fight? Exactly how bad is Takuya's condition? And how long will it take for him to return back to normal? Zoe turned her attention back to Takuya and tried reasoning with him once more.

"Takuya, we have no other choice. We have to fight. If not, more and more innocent Digimon will get hurt."

"There has to be another way. What if we're fighting our friends? What if we're force to destroy the ones we love? What if I'm forced to do battle with you? Huh?"

"Takuya... I..."

"I can't do it Zoe. I just can't."

"Stop it, Takuya!" yelled Zoe. "Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? Look around you! If you haven't already noticed, there is war going on in the Digital World! It is our job as Legendary Warriors to find the Spirits, stop the evil Malevomon and bring peace back to this world! Come on, Takuya! It's our destiny! We are the Chosen Legendary Warriors!"

"And would you mind telling me who exactly chose us for this dumb job anyway?"

"Dumb job? DUMB JOB? Takuya, protecting the Digital World is not a job! It's our duty! Everyone in the Digital World is counting on us!"

"And what if we fail, Zoe? What if we're not strong enough to defeat Malevomon and the rest of his army?"

"Then we'll have to get stronger and keep on fighting until we..."

"You don't get it, do you Zoe? It's impossible! We can't win! We'll never defeat Malevomon! He's just too strong for us!"

"That's enough Takuya! Man, what has gotten into you? Open your eyes, already! We can't save the Digital World with a lousy attitude like that!"

"Me? Open my eyes? Why don't you? Why can't you see that our efforts means nothing? We can't save the Digital World, no matter how hard we try! It's useless! What's the point in trying anyway?"

"Oh my God... TAKUYA?

"ZOE?"

The two of them angrily stared into each other's eyes, trying to force the other into submission. Neither one of them spoke another word, letting their eyes do all of the arguing. Their bickering caused a few Digimon around the village to stop and observe their little staring contest. However, it seemed as if neither Takuya nor Zoe realized they were attracting some attention.

"TAKUYA! ZOE!" A voice screamed, snapping the two of them out of their silent argument. They looked and noticed Bokomon and Neemon sprinting towards them.

"What is it?" Zoe queried. "What's going on?"

"Come quickly!" said Bokomon.

"What's wrong? Where's Swiftmon?" asked Zoe

"He's having a discussion with the leader of the Terra Hills Village!"

"About what?"

"The Legendary Spirits of Earth! It seems as if the leader knows the location and Swiftmon's trying to find out where it is!"

"Then why are we standing around here? Let's go!" exclaimed Zoe.

"Go where? To the bathroom?" Neemon randomly asked.

An annoyed Bokomon tugged hard on the rabbit's pants and gave him another painful wedgie. He grabbed Neemon by the ear and dragged him away, while the rabbit rubbed his aching behind, screaming in agony. Zoe sighed and glowered back at Takuya.

"We'll discuss this later." Zoe hissed as she stomped off toward her two Digimon friends.

"Whatever..." Takuya growled to himself, walking slowly behind the group.


Takuya's POV:

Zoe and I walked together, side by side without speaking to each other. We both knew that saying just one word could start another argument and the bickering would continue. Neither one of us were making eye contact with each other, knowing it could potentially lead to more problems. I kept my eyes off of her ever since our little argument we had earlier.

Why can't she see things my way? We all know that fighting would lead to more fighting. We lost a lot of Digimon when we fight, yet Zoe insists that we MUST fight, since it's the only way to restore peace in the Digital World. Does that even make sense? Who does Zoe think she is anyway? What's the point of talking to her when she has no idea what she's talking about?

I noticed Bokomon looking behind us. He could sense the tension as well as the silent treatment going on between me and Zoe. He's probably wondering what's going on and decided to break the ice, since the silence was getting on his nerves.

"Aright, you two. What's going on?"

"I don't want to talk about." Zoe said.

"Same here." I huffed.

"Talk about what?"

"SHUT UP, NEEMON!" Zoe and I yelled in unison. We glared at each other for a few seconds before turning our attention back to the front.

"Well, whatever problems you two have, you better resolve them quickly, because we're already here." Bokomon said.

We came to a large tent with brown, and orange stripes. It was surrounded with golden drapes decorated with amber and topaz gems. I noticed a couple golden flags on top. I figured out this is where the head of the village reside. We were just approaching the entrance to the tent, when we heard noises coming from inside.

I opened the flaps and saw two Digimon conversing with each other. On one side was the second-in-command of the Digimon Battlefront, Swiftmon. However, there was another Digimon on the other side of the table. It looked like a giant lion with a dark brown mane around his head with the bottom portion tied into a smaller tails. He had a gold skin, sharp paws and two tails on its back.

"That's why need the Spirits, my friend." Swiftmon argued. "In order to defeat Malevomon, we need to assemble all the Legendary Spirits and use their powers to stop his evil from spreading across the Digital World."

"It is true. Malevomon has proven himself to be one very powerful Digimon." The lion Digimon countered. "However, the Spirits of Earth gives the Terra Hills Village protection. Without it, the Digimon will feel insecure, our defenses will crumble and we could very well fall into the evil hands of Malevomon."

Zoe and I quietly tiptoed inside as we continue to watch and listen to the two Digimon debate.

"Is that the leader of the village, Bokomon?" asked Zoe.

"Indeed. He's Liamon." answered the mutant Digimon.

Digimon Analyzer:

Name: Liamon

Level: Champion

Attacks: Thunder of the Beast King; Critical Strike

Description: If a lion symbolizes courage, then Liamon is the bravest Digimon of all. He prefers capturing prey stronger than itself and it has often been observed commencing an attack against an Ultimate level Digimon without hesitation. His Thunder of the Beast King attack shoots blast of electricity at those who oppose him.

"Ah, you must be the Legendary Warriors." spoke the lion Digimon.

Zoe and I turned towards Liamon and nodded our heads. I stepped forward and walked up to the head of the village.

"Yes, sir. My name's Takuya, and I hold the Legendary Spirits of Flame." I said.

"And I'm Zoe, Bearer of the Spirits of Wind." said the girl behind me.

"Pleasure's all mine. I am Liamon, leader of the Terra Hills Village and the guardian of the Spirits of Earth."

"Guardian?" I asked.

"That's right. Only two Digimon know the whereabouts of the Spirits of Earth, and I happened to be one of them. It is my duty to protect the Spirits from any evil Digimon trying to get their hands on it."

"I see." Bokomon nodded.

"Um... excuse me, Mr. Liamon?" Zoe stepped forward. "Could you please tell us where the Spirits of Earth are? We need the Spirit's power to stop the evil Malevomon from destroying the Digital World."

"If Malevomon get his hands on the Spirits of Earth, there's no way we could defeat him. Please, Liamon? We need the Spirits to save the Digital World." I argued.

Liamon treaded towards me and Zoe. He looked at us as if he's searching for something. He walked around us a couple times before standing before us, ready to give his answer. "My children, I understand your purpose for coming here. And I'm also aware of the darkness being spread that evil creature that calls himself the Digimon Emperor..."

"Great! So that means you can give us the Spirits now?" Neemon blurted out.

"Shut up, you imbecile!" Bokomon shouted. Zoe and I looked back at the two nut jobs back there and giggled a little bit. We turned our attention back towards Liamon, both with a serious look on our face.

"As I was saying..." continued Liamon."... Even though our world is in danger, as the guardian of the Legendary Spirits of Earth, I cannot give them to you."

"But why not?" I wondered.

"You see children, the Spirits of Earth protects our village from evil. Its power drives away the darkness and keeps the Digimon here secure. The Spirits must remain here, or our defenses will fall. The Digimon would have nothing left to protect them."

"Please understand." said Swiftmon. "Malevomon is after the Legendary Spirits as well. There's no telling what might happen if he gets another Spirit under his control."

"I understand." Liamon said. "Malevomon is a very powerful Digimon, and he must be stopped. I would love to help you children on your mission. I know where the Spirits are and would love to tell you. But here in Terra Hills Village, that's not how things work around here. I cannot just give you the Spirits of Earth. You would have to earn it."

"Huh? What are you saying?" Zoe asked with her head slightly tilted.

"What do you mean we have to earn it?" I followed.

"It's quite simple. If you want the Spirits, then you must accept my challenge."

"Challenge? What challenge?" said Bokomon.

"You must prove yourselves worthy to obtain the Spirits."

"And how do you propose we do that?" I questioned.

"As I said before, I am the guardian of the Spirits of Earth. That makes me the strongest fighter in Terra Hills Village. If you want the Spirits so much... then you must defeat me in a battle."

"WHAT?" I protested.

"Hmph! Is that it?" Zoe chuckled.

"Yes. If you win, then Spirits of Earth will be yours. However, if I win, then you must leave this village and never return."

"But..." I interrupted.

"... And the Spirits will remain with me, for better or worse. Are we clear, Legendary Warriors?"

I looked at the ground nervously and pondered about the lion's proposal. From what I understand, if we're going to get the Spirits of Earth, we have to fight Liamon in a battle... and win. I never wanted to fight anyone, not like this. I don't care if the Legendary Spirits are on the line, fighting is not a good way to settle things.

Sure, if we win, then the Spirits come with us. It'll be a critical step towards defeating Malevomon and his army of evil Digimon. But at the same time, what if something bad happen to Liamon? What if we fought and we actually defeat him? There is a chance we could seriously hurt him... or worse. I can't fight a Digimon that plays an important role in this village.

Then again, what if we lose? When I looked at Liamon, he wasn't kidding when he said he will do whatever it takes to protect the Spirits as well as the entire village. Does that include destroying us? Is Liamon willing to go that far to protect the Spirits of Earth? I can't risk my life for that... and I'm not willing to sacrifice Zoe's life just for some Spirits. Not only that, but we would be forced to leave Terra Hills Village.

In other worlds, we will never obtain the Spirits of Earth, which could possibly end all hopes in saving the Digital World. There has to be another way to settle this dispute. Maybe I can try convincing Liamon to give us the Spirits for the sake of the Digital World. After all, no one has to get hurt over some Spirits. I looked back at the beast Digimon, ready to give him my answer.

"... DONE!" Zoe hollered. Her quick answer surprised me; and not in a good way. I stared back at her, feeling both shocked and annoyed. Here I was, thinking how to obtain the Spirits without anyone getting hurt, and here comes Zoe, opening her big mouth once again. Now someone's bound to get hurt. Man, she's so inconsiderate.

"Very well, then." Liamon nodded. "Come, children. Follow me to The Circle, where we will have our battle. And may the strongest fighter win." He gave us one quick nod and stepped out of his tent. Swiftmon looked back at me and Zoe.

"Alright, you two. Who's going to fight Liamon?" He asked us.

"Um... Swiftmon? Do you think we could settle this without fighting?" I asked.

"Takuya? What are you talking about?" said Zoe.

"I just don't want anyone else to get hurt, that's all. I'm sure we could get the Spirits of Earth if we just talk to Liamon." I answered.

"Son, if it were that easy, we would've been walking away with the Spirits an hour ago." said Swiftmon.

"Takuya, you heard Liamon. We have no choice, but to fight. It's the only way to the get the Spirits of Earth back to our side."

"I know... I just..."

"It appears the effects of Malevomon's attack hasn't fully healed yet." Swiftmon muttered to Zoe.

I looked back at the swordsman, looking more confused than ever. What the heck was he talking about? 'Effects of Malevomon's attack'? Come on, that's ridiculous. I looked back at Zoe and noticed her attention was towards the ground. She looked really sad, but for what reason?

"Well, what's the plan guys?" Bokomon questioned.

"I know! How about we go outside and play with the kids? That sounds like a good plan" Neemon randomly suggested.

Annoyed with his friend's idiocy, he dragged him by the pants out of the tent. Zoe and I, along with Swiftmon followed the two rookie Digimon out of the tent. We followed the warrior-like Digimon towards the place the villagers called The Circle. As we walked, awkward silence filled the area. It felt extremely uncomfortable, especially for Zoe. She never liked the quiet.

"One of us is going to have to fight Liamon..." Zoe spoke softly. She looked back at me, waiting for me to say something. Her eyes felt like they're asking me to volunteer.

"What, Zoe?" I said in retaliation. She could sense the irritation in my voice.

"I didn't say it had to be you." Zoe huffed. She turned away from me without saying another word. I looked at the teenage girl for a few more seconds before turning back towards the front.

There was a large crowd of Digimon gathered in one area. Most of them were screaming and cheering. I assumed we arrived at The Circle. Upon further inspection, I now know why this spot is called The Circle. In the middle of the crowd was a small circular area, big enough for two Digimon to battle each other. I also noticed Liamon waiting at the edge of the ring. There was a fierce look in his eyes. It's like he's ready to fight and there's no way he's going to lose. Swiftmon, Zoe and I made our way towards the outer edge of the ring. We made eye contact with the head of the village. He grinned towards us and spoke once again.

"This battle will determine the fate of the Spirits of Earth!" He proclaimed. "I assume the humans know the stipulations of this fight, right Swiftmon?"

"Indeed, they do." The swordsman bowed.

"Very well. Now, who shall be my opponent?" The lion asked.

Swiftmon turned back towards me and Zoe. He observed every one of us, deciding who would be the best choice in fighting the beast Digimon before us. But for some strange reason, Swiftmon had his attention more on me than on Zoe. I had a feeling I know where this was going, and I'm not going to like it.

"I know just the right opponent for you, Liamon. And it shall be none other than... The Legendary Warrior of Flame!"

"WHAT?" Zoe and I yelled in unison.

"YEAH!" The other Digimon cheered. "LET'S GET THIS FIGHT STARTED! KICK HIS BUTT, LIAMON!"

"Very well, then! Step forward, young man!" The lion ordered.

However, if anything, I took a step back. There's no way I'm fighting Liamon. I won't do it! I refuse! Why did Swiftmon pick me to fight? Why didn't he pick Zoe? She's willing to fight and hurt our friends to get the Spirits of Earth. She may not be a better fighter than me, but at least she's willing to step up.

"No!" I argued. "Swiftmon, I won't do it! I'm not going to fight him!"

"You have to!" said the swordsman. "The fate of the Digital World rests in your hands now! There are a lot of innocent Digimon counting on you! Do not let them down!"

"Yeah, but..."

"Come on, Takuya! You can do it!" Bokomon said, smiling at me. Neemon was behind him and he waved back at me too.

I looked up and my eye looked on to Zoe's. At first I sensed anger inside of her. Either because she wanted to be the one to fight Liamon, or because she knows I'm going to lose, which could mean the end of the Digital World. But then, I detected a pinch of concern. Zoe doesn't like the sight of others getting hurt, especially me. She's not just mad that I might fail, but she's worried about me too. I saw her tiny, little smile that gives everybody hope, including me.

"I believe in you, Takuya!" She shouted. Those words entered my ear and must have set something off. A surge of confidence overcame my entire body. I nodded back at my best friend and turned walked towards the center of the circle, where Liamon was waiting.

"I hope you're ready, boy! Because I won't go easy on you! I will not hesitate in destroying you when I get the chance!" His threatening words made me gulp a little bit. I took a step back to regain myself.

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" The villagers demanded. "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

"Alright... LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!" Liamon growled.

His hair around his neck surged with static electricity. I knew he was ready. But was I? I took a deep breath and looked back at Zoe. She had both her hands over her heart. However, her eyes never left mine. She smiled and gave me one last nod for insurance. I nodded back and looked back at the lion Digimon. I reached into my pocket and slowly took out my D-Tector.

"Oh, come on! Would you two hurry up and get this show started? You guys are wasting my time here!" A scratchy voice spoke in the wind.

Everyone around the area, including me, searched for the source of the noise. We looked high and low, but we couldn't seemed to find who spoke to us. Then again, I recognized that voice and I knew for sure he was here.

"Show yourself, Sinistromon! I know you're here!" Swiftmon demanded. Saying that name caused some villagers to gasp in fear. Some shielded their children from any potential attacks.

"Whatever you say, pretty boy!" The voice spoke again.

"Look! Up there!" Bokomon hollered, pointing his finger up out in front. Every one of us looked up and sure enough, there was Sinistromon, sitting on top of one of the flagpoles in the village.

"Sinistromon!" gasped Zoe.

"Geez, I came here to see Liamon tear apart that pathetic human standing over there!" He laughed, pointing at me. I clenched my D-Tector tight. "But man, you losers have no idea how to put on a good show! Man, what a waste of life! I should destroy you right now!"

"Sinistromon! Why don't you come down here, so I can rip you into tiny pieces?" ordered Liamon. "You came here uninvited and disrespected the villagers! And for that, you shall be punished! Come here, you pesky insect!"

"Hahahahahaha!" The demon Digimon laughed. "Good one, Liamon. But there's one problem with your little statement there." He stood up on the flagpole and spread his wings out. "You see, you're not going to rip me into pieces..."

The evil minion dove down towards the lion Digimon and reached into his backpack. He pulled out a black sphere no bigger than a baseball. My eyes widened in fear. Sinistromon's got a Chaos Sphere in his possession, which could only mean one thing.

"Oh no... You are going to rip EVERYONE ELSE into pieces!"

Sinistromon disappeared before approaching Liamon. But a second later, he reappeared from the lion's blind spot and drilled the Chaos Sphere into his backside. Liamon screamed in pain as the dark energies of the evil orb started consuming his entire body. It sank deeper into the creature and fused itself with Liamon's heart. All of us watched helplessly as the Chaos Sphere transformed the leader of Terra Hills Village into a maniacal monster. When the fusion had stopped, so did Liamon's screams.

"What are... your orders, sir?" Liamon bowed towards Sinistromon. His gold coat was replaced with gray and black. His brown mane has also turned black and his eyes were bloodshot red. Sinistromon few around his new mind slave and smirked at the terrified villagers.

"Liamon!" Zoe cried out.

"This is bad..." Swiftmon growled. He reached for one of his swords, ready for another battle.

"You see those weaklings over there?" He asked pointing at all of us. The evil Liamon leered at his prey and a huge grin appeared. "Destroy them all, and bring me the Legendary Spirits of Earth!"

Liamon turned his body towards us and planted all four of his feet on the ground, ready to strike and kill everything in his sight.

"Your wish... is my command!"


Author's Notes: So, that's chapter twelve.

Can Takuya and Zoe stop Liamon before he terrorizes the entitr village? Will our heroes ever find the Spirits of Earth? Or Sinistromon deliver them to Lord Malevomon? These questions will be answered in the next chapter. Stay tuned to find out what happens on the next Digimon Frontier: Chaos Rising.

*Don't forget to review!*